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Video of this chapter

Since I’m providing the full video, you can see what I do in the intermission. Unlike the other route, we do get access to the new units now, but I’ll go over them once the gameplay starts.

Last time, Fiona and the gang went back in time to Mars, five years earlier.

[Nadesico, Cafeteria]

It’s been several months since we’ve lost contact with this Martian colony, probably due to an unknown enemy.

We came here to rescue the Martian people with the Nadesico.

(So this is shortly after the Jovian Federation attacked Earth…)

In spite of that, the first place we went to was Nergal’s Mars branch. I guess the company’s data is more important.

How rude. There’s a shelter in the basement of the Mars branch.

Yeah, if anyone survived, they would have taken shelter there.

Even so, the place was empty.

But Akito and I did find Inez.

By the way, what can you tell us about your group? Who are you? The Excellence isn’t registered with any military. Uribatake says that it’s powered by something no one has ever seen before.

It’s uhhhh…

It’s…?

The Time Flow Engine… Right?

How do you know that?

I suddenly remembered something after hearing your names. The Time Flow Engine is a system that your father proposed, which uses the flow of time to turn its turbine and create energy.

Oh yeah. It was such a futuristic theory that no one took it seriously when it was first proposed.

Using the flow of time to generate power? Ridiculous.

That’s why it’s so hard to believe. I remember reading the paper on time particles and the Time Flow Engine since it was so unique.

…The Excellence is a mobile weapon equipped with a prototype Time Flow Engine. After the attacks on Mars, they were forced to destroy the research facility to escape. They couldn’t control it properly and didn’t make it.

I see.

I was doing my research like a hermit, so I’m not in the loop about any refugees on Mars.

Makes sense. So you also need protection, right?

…

[Nadesico, Deck]

How’s the Excellence looking? When do you think it’ll be fixed?

Almost done. We were able to reuse a lot of the Cosmodriver and Aestivalis parts, but…

But?

Raul, I want to replenish the time particles, so please start the engine.

OK.

Alright, please start it now

Starting the engine… Time particle collection window is open.

Collecting time particles. Particle levels at… 30… 40… 50…

…

90… 100. OK. Please close the window.

It’s a good thing that time particles can be harvested anywhere that time flows. Unless I use a lot of them in a short amount of time, I don’t have to worry about running out of energy.

True that.

What’s wrong? You don’t look well.

I’ve always looked like this.

You’re lying. We’ve been together for over ten years. I can read you like a book.

…I can’t get anything past you.

So what’s on your mind?

It’s my shortcoming as a researcher. I denied the possibility of time warping with the Time Flow Engine and instead developed a regular engine. But then we actually travelled back in time…

Who cares about that!? We need to figure out what we’re going to do…

What do you mean “who cares”!? This accident has completely shattered my pride as a researcher! I rejected my father’s dream of a time machine and instead chose the path of using the Time Flow Engine as a stable energy supply system!

…We’ll go home.

Eh?

I’m saying we’re going to go back home. The Time Flow Engine was originally meant to be used in time machines, right? This time slip proves that time travel is possible. We just need to perfect the engine so the Excellence can time warp again. Then both yours and our parent’s research will be complete. We’ll return to our original time and live happily ever after. Doesn’t that sound nice?

…Easier said than done. But that seems what we should be doing. It’s just hard to admit that I’ve been wrong until now…

Failure is the mother of success. There is no scientist who never makes mistakes.

Harsh.

It is. So let’s go back and show everyone who laughed at the Time Flow Engine just how wrong they are.

Heh. Music to my ears.

You too, Mizuho. Raji and I need you. The Excellence only exists because of you. We all must go back. For the Excellence’s sake too.

For the Excellence’s sake?

Yes. The Time Flow Engine needs a body to transform the energy it creates into power, such as the Excellence’s Frames.

…Okay.

[Nadesico, Bridge]

What do you mean they refuse to be rescued?

We’re not going back to Earth. That’s all.
(Inez Fressange)

But if you stay on Mars…

Do you know why we came to Mars in the first place? It’s because we hate the Earth, where there’s always war. And yet you want to send us back there?

Unless you want to be captured and modified by the Meganoids.

The Meganoids are great contributors to Mars’ terraforming. Even with that latest incident, they traveled around the city and saved refugees…

They’re turning them into soldiers one by one.

Has anyone saved by the Meganoids ever returned safely?

…

The only reason why the Meganoids cooperated with the terraforming project was to secure humans and to turn them into soldiers. A human ranch, so to speak. We know their plan, so we went to the trouble of hitching a ride with the Nadesico to come here.

What’s going on?

Is there a problem?

Oh, Akito. Actually…

(...Big bro…?)

This is your first time meeting Fiona and her friends. This is Inez Fressange, the Martian refugee’s representative.

(Not the first time for us.)

Inez, it’s true that Earth is full of invaders right now and pacifism is crumbling. It’s not very peaceful, sure. But even here, we don’t know when the Jovian Lizards will attack.

(What are the Jovian Lizards?)

(...The Jovian Federation. It’s what we called them at first.)

I was on Mars too, but in the end I couldn’t save anyone and somehow found myself on Earth… I don’t want this to happen anymore. I can’t just watch people get killed.

…I understand. Let’s convince everyone to board the Nadesico and go to Earth.

[Nadesico, Cafeteria]

Here you go, some oolong tea.

Thank you, Garrison.

I never knew you were a Martian colony survivor.

No one would believe me if I told them. I don’t even know how I ended up on Earth.

What do you mean?

I was facing a Jovial Lizard mecha that was attacking my colony… Then I suddenly found myself on Earth. I couldn’t help the people around me… Ai and I were the only ones left…

(A Boson Jump. Akito is an A-Class Jumper after all. He must have Jumped to Earth instinctively, even though he wasn’t aware of it.)

Waaah. I can’t believe you had a backstory like that… If it were me, I would risk my life to atone for the sins of my past. I’m fired up!!!

I don’t think he’s committed any sins…

Akito, who’s Ai?

Was she your girlfriend when you were at the colony?

Akito, is she telling the truth?

N-no, not at all. She was a girl who was with us at the evacuation shelter. She was only 7 or 8 years old.

So that’s your preference, Tenkawa.

I told you it’s not!

Yes, yes. We’re nearing our destination. We might be attacked by Jovian Lizards or Meganoids. Let’s evacuate them quickly and return to Earth.

[Martian City, Underground Shelter]

Okay then everyone, please board the Nadesico in single file. Have you left anything behind?

Looks like we’ll be able to leave Mars without any fighting.

…I wonder.
[Alarm rings]

W-what the heck!?

[Nadesico, Bridge]

It’s the Jovian Lizards. They’ve appeared in large numbers around the Chulip!

Hurry up with the evacuation!

How long will it take to finish?

About five minutes. We’re trying our best to hurry it up.

The Nadesico can’t move while we’re evacuating them.

What should we do at a time like this?

Deploy the distortion field at maximum power.

We can’t. If we did that, the refugees would be crushed by the field.

Oh no. Then what should we do!?

Captain, one of your jobs as Captain is to protect the lives of your crew.

…I know. You keep telling me that.

So then…

Just hold on. Protecting the crew is important, but the Nadesico originally came to Mars to rescue the refugees, right?

That’s true.

In that case, we shouldn’t just abandon them for the sake of the crew.

But what about the enemy attack?

The Nadesico is Nergal’s most advanced battleship. It won’t be taken down in a few hits.

Well… It depends on where they hit.

Don’t worry. We’ll beat them before the Nadesico can even think about sinking!

He’s right.

Alright. Aestivalis team, deploy!

Fiona, please deploy as well.

I was going to even if you didn’t ask. I won’t let a single enemy get close to the Nadesico.

Nadesico B Route Chapter 5: Something like a “Fateful Decision”

Fiona, the Aestivalises can’t stray far from the Nadesico because of their energy supply.

I’m aware. The Aestis will protect the Nadesco and we’ll charge to reduce their numbers.

The Time Flow Engine’s output is at 91%. Looking good and stable.

No abnormalities with the Striker Frame.

Aestivalis team, intercept any approaching enemies.

Five minutes until the evacuation is complete.

Okay, only five minutes. Don’t let them get close to the Nadesico! Everyone, get pumped!

Becoming a shield to protect people… That’s a good way to die.

You moron, don’t jinx it!

…

Here they come!

New unit time!

[Nadesico]
It’s just a weaker version of the Nadesico B and C from before the time travel. What the original Nadesico does have over the other two are ammo based Missiles.

[Aestivalis (Air/Artillery/0G Frames)]
Everyone’s Aesti are exactly the same except for a different head section, so I’m just going to show off their frames once each. Much like the Excellence, the Aestivalis has different Frames that act differently from each other. The Air Frame is used for close range atmospheric combat, being awful in space and also being very lightly armored. The Artillery Frame is used for long ranged atmospheric combat and it’s the most heavily armored, but it also sucks in space. The 0G frame is used for space combat and is somewhere in the middle between Air’s mobility and Artillery’s bulk. If you want to use a combo attack between the pilots, they all need to be either the Air or 0G Frame. And of course, don’t forget that they need to stick close to a Nadesico for maximum EN usage.

[Daitarn 3 (Along with Dai-fighter and Dai-tank)]
Daitarn is huge, bulky, and powerful. It’ll have problems hitting things later on in the game though. It can transform into the Daifighter for slightly higher mobility and movement, and the Daitank for more armor. The mobility difference won’t matter because the enemy will have a hard time not hitting this 120m tall monstrosity (almost 394 ft for those who can’t metric). Overall, it will more than carry its weight and just needs some investment into Armor and EN throughout the game.

Akito and Gai have combo attacks with each other, much like Ryoko, Hikaru, and Izumi. Full disclosure, I don’t normally use Aestivalis units in my SRW runs, but I will make an effort to at least use Akito and Gai more often.

Much like what the dialog dictated, the Nadesico cannot move for five turns. You could go with the MC’s idea to focus on attacking with the Excellence and Daitarn, but I opted to hang back and let them come to me. The Jovian Battas are hilariously weak, so they won’t be an issue. Their mid-class units have more bulk, but will also have a harder time hitting anyone who isn’t a battleship or Daitarn. Every Jovian enemy has a Distortion Field which reduces incoming damage, so be mindful of that.

Watch out for the Daitetsujin. It’s more powerful than everything else. Still shouldn’t be that much of a problem. If you play more defensively, you can also drain it of its EN, rendering it helpless and its barrier inactive.

Once five turns have passed…

All the refugees are aboard the ship.

Good job. V!

I knew we could do it.

The Nadesico will now join the fray. Nadesico, launch!

Now you can freely move the Nadesico and by extension, the Aestis.

Once all the Jovians are defeated…

All Jovian Lizards are confirmed to be destroyed. A pilot ejected from the enemy mobile weapon. Garrison is chasing him on his bicycle.

…

Garrison, don’t let him get away.

Hohoho. It may not look like it, but I was once a bicycle riding champion.

A bicycle? Not like a motorcycle or something?

Miss Ryoko, bicycles are truly ecological vehicles that do not damage the environment. Don’t dismiss them so easily. TOH!
[Sounds of an impact]

Uwaa!

I caught him! It’ll be best if he stays quiet for now.

Alright, well done. Bring him to the Nadesico right away.

More enemies are approaching.

What? More of them?

Meganoids! Is that you, Koros?

Banjo, you’re unlucky enough to come here to Mars. Or did you come here of your own volition to become a Meganoid?
(Koros)

I wasn’t aware that Meganoids had a sense of humor, Koros.

Meganoids surpass humans in every way. You could even say we have a better sense of humor than you.

Perhaps. Some Meganoids are downright hilarious.

Banjo, quit provoking them.

I know. Our priority is to get the refugees back to Earth.

But how?

If we hesitate, more enemies will show up.

The Mars Sphere is full of Meganoids and Jovian Lizards.

…Oh right. If we use that Chulip, we can make a Boson Jump, right?

It does seem like the Lizards used that to Jump here.

Are you serious!?

Yes. If we use that, the Nadesico can Jump long distances!

I was wondering what you were planning. But we don’t know where we’ll Jump to.

(Boson Jump? …That’s it!)

I agree with the Captain. If we stay here any longer, we’ll just keep fighting more enemies until we drop. Instead we should take the gamble and Jump.

There’s a chance we’ll just end up in the middle of hostiles.

…About that. Captain, Akito, Inez, I have an idea.

W-what is it?

At the moment we enter the Chulip, can you just think “Go to Earth”? You can also imagine somewhere on Earth as well.

Why?

(I see. The three of them are A-Class Jumpers. If they think about it strongly enough, they might be able to pinpoint the Jump destination.)

Captain Misumaru, please trust Fiona and try it. People’s thoughts can make the impossible possible.

Are you serious? Idiot!

Y-you’re right. Human feelings are strong. I’m sure we can do it!

Hey hey hey. I’m not sure about this!

Nadesico, go!

We’re going to charge directly into the Chulip!

Sorry Koros, but we’ll have to continue this later. We’re going to be late for dinner.

I won’t let you get away, Banjo!

Does the word no mean anything to you?

Now the objective is to either get the Nadesico to the Chulip, or to kill every Meganoid. I opted for the latter, since they’re kinda weak and the more money we have, the better. When you get to the Meganoid tanks, take them down at close range so they can’t use their more powerful attacks.

Banjo, you’re a fool who can’t understand Don’s sorrow!

Sorrow for the Meganoids means joy for humanity.